Ellen White: Woman of Vision

The Glendale Sanitarium

At Glendale J. A. Burden was leading out in the establishment of a second sanitarium in southern California. He was the manager of the St. Helena Sanitarium when Ellen White returned from Australia in late 1900. Shortly, however, he responded to a call to Australia to help lead out in the establishment of institutions there. WV 463.1

The Burdens returned to the States in February 1904. He picked up the words from Ellen White's pen that “a sanitarium should be established near Los Angeles” and “it is the expressed will of God that this shall be done” (Letter 211, 1904). To Burden this was a challenge. He knew that she had also written: WV 463.2

Light has been given me that a sanitarium should be established near Los Angeles, in some rural district. For years the need of such an institution has been kept before our people in southern California. Had the brethren there heeded the warnings given by the Lord, to guard them from making mistakes, they would not now be tied up as they are. But they have not followed the instruction given. They have not gone forward in faith to establish a sanitarium near Los Angeles (Letter 147, 1904). WV 463.3

In response to her urging, Burden looked around for likely properties in southern California that could be secured for a reasonable sum. In the late 1880s many establishments had been built for tourists and health resorts, but the businesses had failed. WV 463.4

The building that now seemed most likely to provide what was needed was the castle like Glendale Hotel, built in 1886 and situated on a five-acre (two hectare) tract of land bordered by dirt roads. At that time Glendale was a country settlement of 500 inhabitants, eight miles (13 kilometers) from Los Angeles. WV 463.5

A 75-room, unfurnished structure that had cost $60,000 was available. Because of the business failures in southern California, it had never been used as a hotel. It served for four years as an Episcopal school for girls; then in 1901 and 1902 it was used as a public high school. WV 463.6

On the property were shade trees and orchards. Around it were chicken ranches and a scattering of modest homes. In 1904 a real-estate developer, Leslie C. Brand, controlled the property. The asking price was $26,000, which Burden knew was far out of his reach. WV 463.7

As he sat in his buggy looking over the hotel grounds, Burden decided that if he could buy it for $15,000 he would regard this as a sign of divine approval. Taking several of his brethren with him, he approached Mr. Brand and explained, “‘Our money will have to come from church members. Can you help us by reducing the price?’” WV 463.8

Brand thought a moment and then asked, “‘How does $12,500 sound?’” Burden responded that it sounded fine. He took a $20 bill and gave it to Brand as a deposit on the purchase (Johns and Utt, p. 163). WV 463.9

At the conference headquarters Burden was dealing with the same administrators who had hesitated so long about investing in the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. The conference lacked even the $1,000 needed for a down payment on the Glendale property. The president of the Pacific Union Conference had made it clear to the local conference administration that there must be a stop to increasing indebtedness, and there must be a turnaround in financial affairs of the Southern California Conference. WV 464.1

Burden took the matter to the constituency at the camp meeting in September 1904, and, to his disappointment, they rejected the purchase for lack of money. WV 464.2

At last Elder Burden was able to enlist the help of Clarence Santee, the conference president. The two men decided to advance the money for the down payment out of their own pockets. Just at this time Mrs. White sent a message urging in strong terms the purchase of the property, and Elder Santee read it to the conference delegates in session. WV 464.3

“Why is this work delayed?” she asked. She also persuaded two of the church members to advance $1,000 each toward the purchase of the institution. The delegates rallied and pledged $5,200 to buy the Glendale Hotel. A cash payment of $4,500 was made, and a three-year mortgage was agreed upon for the balance. A board of trustees was set up, with Elder Santee as chairman. The board took steps at once to develop the institution. WV 464.4

This was the situation when Ellen White stopped at the new Glendale institution. She went through all the rooms of the new sanitarium, many of which were freshly painted. She wished there were more land than the five acres (two hectares) connected with the building, but she observed, “It is certainly in the country, for there are no buildings very near it. It is surrounded by large fields of strawberries, and by orange orchards” (Letter 311, 1904). WV 464.5